JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
This is not meant to be as all-encompassing a thread as the title implies. What it is, is intended to bring our fellow citizens forward from 1861 to the establishment of an organization know as The Freedman's Bureau. Please excuse the skipping over individual stories of unknown yet unimaginable bravery, sacrifice and determination as an entire race shook off literal, psychological, sociological and indeed- shackles of hidouesly real rusty steel.
Say what contentious thing you like on the topic of General Ben Butler ( but do not, please, start another thread? ), his brilliant stroke in declaring these prisoners ' contraband ' aided the escaped prisoners themselves, the freedom seekers smelling cool, clean fresh air streaming, unstoppable from the Erath's core itself 'neath dank cell doors represented by enslavement. Hope.
And so they left, and so so they came- uncounted numbers, our fellow citizens. Chaos made into order through the efforts of patient, kind teachers like Charlotte Forten
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/grimke-charlotte-forten-1837-1914
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/identity/text3/charlottefortenjournal.pdf
and Northern teachers opening schools by the day, there were still destitute and supposedly free black families homeless, starving, women and children adrift. Shockingly, frequently the same Union Army our balck troops scrambled to join and served so faithfully rejected the families of these soldiers, literally leaving them to starve outside military posts and forts. Another tragedy suffered. Cannot imagine. It was increasingly clear these victims of a centuries old injustice, now ' free' remained open to unthinkable fresh injustices.
Organzations composed of the strong community of successful black business owners, leaders like Elizabeth Keckley sprang into action providing relief, much of it, structuring relief in forms most effective for food and sheleter and job training. Eventually- and to make a long story horribly brief, our government awakened to this giant need. The Freeman's bureau deserves a separate thread or 6. This thread, thought I'd like to acknowledge the small beginnings, the schools, the people, the early separate threads eventually drawn together into the strong and unbreakable rope, or macadam road, the Freedman's Bureau and life beyond.
Schools, both Freedman's Schools and those similar to Charlotte Forten's Penn School, or Penn Academy- still there, too, a hugely respected academic institution.
Not a school, couldn't resist, Freedman's first vote, Palentine, Texas
Someone will ID where this Freedman's school is, one of many springing up as a result of the thirst for sheer knowledge our fellow citizens had- so long denied, disallowed.
Edisto Island, one of the war time schools there
Sorry about repeats!
I think this is Penn Center, long after the war
Charlotte and her Penn School
One of the war time schools, I don't think it was yet a Freedman's school
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=013/llsl013.db&recNum=539
More Freedman and war time schools for Butler's ' Contraband ' , on the other computer. Will get to them. The schools are an awfully good place to start, and the teachers who came to ensure an equal education for all citizens of our country. God Bless Them.
Say what contentious thing you like on the topic of General Ben Butler ( but do not, please, start another thread? ), his brilliant stroke in declaring these prisoners ' contraband ' aided the escaped prisoners themselves, the freedom seekers smelling cool, clean fresh air streaming, unstoppable from the Erath's core itself 'neath dank cell doors represented by enslavement. Hope.
And so they left, and so so they came- uncounted numbers, our fellow citizens. Chaos made into order through the efforts of patient, kind teachers like Charlotte Forten
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/grimke-charlotte-forten-1837-1914
http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai/identity/text3/charlottefortenjournal.pdf
and Northern teachers opening schools by the day, there were still destitute and supposedly free black families homeless, starving, women and children adrift. Shockingly, frequently the same Union Army our balck troops scrambled to join and served so faithfully rejected the families of these soldiers, literally leaving them to starve outside military posts and forts. Another tragedy suffered. Cannot imagine. It was increasingly clear these victims of a centuries old injustice, now ' free' remained open to unthinkable fresh injustices.
Organzations composed of the strong community of successful black business owners, leaders like Elizabeth Keckley sprang into action providing relief, much of it, structuring relief in forms most effective for food and sheleter and job training. Eventually- and to make a long story horribly brief, our government awakened to this giant need. The Freeman's bureau deserves a separate thread or 6. This thread, thought I'd like to acknowledge the small beginnings, the schools, the people, the early separate threads eventually drawn together into the strong and unbreakable rope, or macadam road, the Freedman's Bureau and life beyond.
Schools, both Freedman's Schools and those similar to Charlotte Forten's Penn School, or Penn Academy- still there, too, a hugely respected academic institution.
Not a school, couldn't resist, Freedman's first vote, Palentine, Texas
Someone will ID where this Freedman's school is, one of many springing up as a result of the thirst for sheer knowledge our fellow citizens had- so long denied, disallowed.
Edisto Island, one of the war time schools there
Sorry about repeats!
I think this is Penn Center, long after the war
Charlotte and her Penn School
One of the war time schools, I don't think it was yet a Freedman's school
http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=013/llsl013.db&recNum=539
More Freedman and war time schools for Butler's ' Contraband ' , on the other computer. Will get to them. The schools are an awfully good place to start, and the teachers who came to ensure an equal education for all citizens of our country. God Bless Them.